The native lands of the Yazidis of the Republic of Armenia have many natural attractions. Among them of particular interest to scientists is the lake Ayglich  that is near the Yazidi village of Aknalich in Armavir Marz, where, we recall, was recently built Yazidi temple Sltan Ezid.

On the North side of the lake down to the dry foothills of Aragats, from under the rocky cliffs which flow springs with clean water.

Lake Ayglich  is located in semi-desert area in the summer shrinks but never completely dry so it has long had strategic importance as a reservoir so necessary in the summer months.  Studies have shown that the lake is fed by an ancient underground river, which has not stopped flowing even after complete burial under a layer of volcanic lava.

It is interest, that the presence of an underground river was discovered relatively recently.  This fact indicates the complexity of the geological structure of the southern foothills of Aragats. Together with the high seismicity of the area nature here can give people surprises.

However, near the village of Aknalich is a city of Metsamor and built in the USSR (until the Chernobyl disaster and the earthquake of Spitac) Armenian nuclear power plant. What geological structure of the area under the nuclear power plant, whether there are nearby underground rivers, shifts of the earth's crust, faults is also a question that needs additional study. Nevertheless, today, a peculiar landscape opens from the surrounding heights: the village of Aknalich with Lake Ayglich and very close to Metsamor with towering buildings of the operating NPP.

How safe is such a neighborhood is a separate question considering the “solid” age of the Armenian (Metsamor) nuclear power plant, as for energy facilities.

The first power unit of the Armenian NPP was commissioned into operation in December 1976, the second — on January 5, 1980. In 1983, after the approval of the project of the second stage of the Armenian NPP (two power units VVER-440, type B-213), construction works began on the construction of the third and fourth power units were started, but after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, all construction works were curtailed.

After the Spitak earthquake, Resolution No. 24 of January 15, 1989 of the Council of Ministers of the Armenian SSR adopted a decision that read: "taking into Account the General seismic situation due to an earthquake in the territory of the Armenian SSR... to stop the first ANPP unit from February 25 and the second unit from March 18, 1989 of the year".  But on November 5, 1995, the 2nd power unit of the ANPP, which had been in a suspended state for 6.5 years, was again launched. This power unit is working until today.

Thus, it is quite symbolic for the present time that the Yazidi shrine is now located on a very small area - the temple of Sltan Ezid, unique for arid Areas Lake Ayglich with clean fresh water and the largest technogenic object of the Republic of Armenia - Metsamor NPP.

Translated by David Babaev 

Yazidis.info